Preparing a Recovery Area for Your Parent for After Hip Replacement Surgery

Home Health Care Kannapolis NC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 330,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed throughout the United States each year. This type of surgery can be one of the most life-changing decisions that your elderly loved one can make, giving them relief from the pain, stiffness, and lack of range of motion that has been limiting them. Whether it is due to injury, tumor, arthritis, or another issue, if your aging parent is dealing with these symptoms it can keep them from being as active as they should be to stay healthy and happy.

Preparing a recovery area at home for your aging parent to use after they get out of the hospital is an important step toward making their healing period as effective and beneficial as possible. Use these tips to help you create this recovery space for your elderly loved one:

• Make it downstairs. After your parent leaves the hospital they will not be able to get up and down the stairs. This means that if their bedroom is upstairs they will not be able to get to it for the first few weeks of recovery. Create their recovery space downstairs so that it is easily accessible and they will not be tempted to overdo it and put their body at risk.

• Provide as many necessities as possible. For at least the first couple of weeks of their recovery your parent is not going to be able to move around the home. This means that they will not be able to easily access water, snacks, tissues, or other items. Set up their recovery area with these items easily accessible so that your parent has what they need to stay comfortable without the stress of trying to get around on their own.

• Ensure they are entertained. Particularly for an elderly adult who is accustomed to being more active and engaged than they can be after hip replacement surgery, the long recovery period can be stressful and frustrating. They might not like sitting around all the time or feeling like they are not able to accomplish anything. This can lead them to not complying with their rest and recuperation guidelines and may put them at higher risk of suffering a serious fall, an infection, or other serious complications. Ensuring that they have access to a variety of forms of entertainment can help them to keep their mind active and sharp, and reduce feelings of disconnection and frustration. Consider items such as books, puzzles, word finds, Sudoku, knitting, cross-stitch, and other crafts.

If your aging parent is going to be undergoing hip replacement surgery, one of the best decisions that you can make for them is to hire home health care. Having an elderly home health care services provider in the home with them is a fantastic way for your loved one to make the most of their recovery time. Through a personalized approach to care and assistance this care provider can help ensure that your loved one gets the rest that they need while also encouraging them to remain compliant with their doctor’s recommendations and guidelines, and guide them into a new active, engaged lifestyle.

Sources: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/hipreplacement/possiblecomplications/01.html

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/inpatient-surgery.htm

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care Services in Kannapolis NC, please contact the caring staff at Tender Hearted Home Care today. (704) 612-4132.